As we told you yesterday, Virginia Beach’s Patriotic Festival was a huge success this year, with Ride 2 Recovery rolling into town on Friday and a celebration of the 100,000th recording for United Through Reading’s Military Program.

To mark this momentous occasion, hundreds of supporters watched as a deployed father read a book on the Jumbotron to his children, who were in the audience with their mom. He had recorded the reading at Fort Eustis and will not return home for many months. His family was thrilled, however, to be able to see him onscreen and read along at home any time they want, through the DVD and book provided by the USO and United Through Reading.

Thanks so much to the Butcher family, for allowing us to be a part of this special family moment. And thanks to everyone who came out to the Patriotic Festival to support the USO and our Troops! Be sure to watch the video recording below, and let us know about your own United Through Reading experiences…

Patriotic Festival attendees watch as Sgt Butcher reads a book about dinosaurs - and completes the 100,000th United Through Reading's Military Program recording - to his family, who was sitting in the audience. (USO photo by Lauren Hebert)

Share this:

Like this:

Ride 2 Recovery participants show that perserverance and teamwork make all things possible, as they complete their six-day Memorial Ride, ending at the Patriotic Festival in Virginia Beach, VA.

USO Hampton Roads was thrilled to be a part of this year’s Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival. The three-day event “is a salute and celebration of the U.S. Military. This is a time for the Hampton Roads region…to remember the men and women of the United States Military for their heroism and their sacrifices they make for Americans.” Other sponsors included The City of Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, and Produced by Whisper Concerts.

Thousands of festival-goers enjoyed concerts, food, fun, and more, but the biggest motivator behind it all was an opportunity to say “Thank You” to those who serve. “The largest concentration of military in the word is in Hampton Roads,” Bruce LaLonde from the USO told WAVY.com. “We are taking time to say thanks.”

Timed to coincide with the start of the festival was the final leg of the Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge. After six days of cycling through 350 miles of Virginiaroads , the 100+ riders arrived at Virginia Beach to enjoy the festivities and relax after their incredible journey.

Also part of the Festival was the 100,000th reading of United Through Reading’s Military Program, which is administered through USO Centers around the world. We’ll have more on that milestone tomorrow, and in the meantime, enjoy the videos below that captured this fantastic weekend for the Troops!